Houston Innovators Podcast

Benjamin Foster is the CEO and founder of Nurseify, a Houston-based platform and resource for connecting nurses to short-term job opportunities. Having launched the platform in 2020 amid the pandemic, Benjamin shares how the nurse-friendly platform works to help facilities staff up when they need it most while enhancing nurse’s stressful job experiences. He also shares some of the trends in health...

Bill Voss is the founder and CEO of Everest.com, a digital marketplace for outdoor equipment, clothing, and more. Everest was founded to bring consumers a one-stop-shop experience, and the company is on the cusp of upgrading its website with an enhanced UX, as well as premiering a new app for customers and sellers on the platform. Bill joins the show today to discuss the origin story of Everest, s...

Jeff James is the founder and CEO of PickleJar, a platform that connects musicians and artists to their fans for tipping, merchandise purchases, and more. Jeff joins the show today to discuss the challenges he’s solving within live music performances and how the platform has evolved over the past year to allow for longterm, strengthened relationships between artists and their fans.

Jim Sledzik is the managing director for Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, a Houston-based corporate venture arm that’s invested $320 million into 33 portfolio companies in the U.S. over the past decade. Jim joins the show today to discuss what types of technology he is looking for and how he’s partnered up with the Ion to tap into the Houston innovation ecosystem. He also shares his advice for energy...

Craig Ceccanti is the president and CEO of T-Minus Solutions, a tech-focused consulting startup for early stage and growing companies. Also a co-founder of Pinot’s Palette and mobile ordering company SEATZ, Craig joins the show today to share both his franchise and tech startup experience, as well as the opportunities he sees for entrepreneurs in Houston.

Paresh Patel and Ed Pettitt are the co-founders of InnoGrid, a cost-effective and equitable plan to build Houston’s first microgrid. With rising temperatures and an increase in devastating storms, it’s time to rethink the grid, and that’s exactly what InnoGrid is focused on. The company, a member of the Ion’s Smart and Resilient Cities Accelerator, is looking to grow partnerships and awareness for...

Founded by Maggie Segrich and Meredith Wheeler, Sesh Coworking is an inclusive coworking space in Midtown Houston that just recently fully opened its new facility. Maggie and Meredith discuss what makes Sesh different and how they are intentionally growing their membership in Houston and, eventually, beyond.

Kate Evinger is the director of Pokatok Labs, a scale-up program for seed and series a-stage sportstech companies. The labs component is part of a bigger mission of Pokatok to make Houston a hub for sports innovation. The company is part of the same business family as InnovationMap and Gow Media. Kate joins the podcast today to share how the inaugural cohort went and what types of companies should...

Samuel Dike is the manager of strategic initiatives at Rice Management Company, the owner and operator of The Ion and the rising Ion Innovation District. Sam joins the show today to share a bit about the Ion’s origin story and how it fit with Rice University and RMC’s missions — as well as what Houstonians can expect from the development of the district, from startups and technology to restaurants...

Adam Putterman is the co-founder of OURS, a Houston-based tech startup focused on optimizing and destigmatizing couples counseling. Adam joins the show today to discuss the virtual therapy platform and its recently closed fundraising round, which was supported big-name investors including Serena Williams. We also discuss how the company manages its fully remote team — and how its hiring and lookin...

Amanda Ducach is the founder of Social Mama, a Houston-based company looking to connect women to improve the isolated and lonely journey that is motherhood. Launching originally as a social platform, Amanda shares how she’s gearing up for a total rebrand and launch of a whole new product — one that’s focused holistically on women’s health and wellness from fertility to menopause. 

John Reale is the executive in residence at Texas Medical Center Innovation and managing director of Integr8d Capital. In this second episode of a two-part series, he shares how he’s leading the TMC Venture Fund, which recently expanded to a $50 million fund. He also discusses the impact TMC3, which is currently in construction, will have on Houston innovation.

John Reale is the executive in residence at Texas Medical Center Innovation and managing director of Integr8d Capital. In this first episode of a two-part series, he discusses his career in Houston innovation from co-founding Station Houston to what he's doing now as an investor in innovative businesses in Houston and beyond.

Pete O’Heeron is the CEO, founder, and chairman of FiberBiologics, a Houston-based company that’s using fibroblast cell technology to treat a variety of chronic diseases. Pete shares how the company is gearing up to IPO, move into a new combined lab and manufacturing space, and launch two more clinical trials to further prove out the impact of fiber blast technology.

Kerri Smith is the executive director of Rice Alliance’s Clean Energy Accelerator. The program, which launched last year, is currently accepting applications for its second class that will run later this year. Kerri and I chat about what she’s looking for in the cohort as well as some of the successes from Class one. Kerri also shares some of her observations of the Houston innovation ecosystem, h...

Trevor Best is the co-founder and CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics, an innovative company creating a photocatalyst technology that is aimed at disrupting the energy industry. Trevor and I discuss the new facility the company is moving into this summer and how syzygy’s first full-scale reactor is expected to debut next year.

Armand Paradis is the co-founder and CEO of ComboCurve, a cloud-based energy analytics and operating platform that more effectively forecasts and reports on energy assets. Armand discusses his career and the problems his software is solving, as well as how he’s managed to scale so quickly and raise over $60 million dollars in venture funding to support the company’s growth.

Dr. Kimon Angelides is the executive chairman and CEO of FemTec Health, a Houston-founded company that's created a comprehensive solution for women’s health — from beauty and lifestyle to fertility and hormonal analytics. Kimon joins the show to discuss how he’s created a career as a serial entrepreneur and where the femtech industry as a whole — as well as Houston’s innovation ecosystem — is head...

Zain Shauk is the co-founder and CEO of Dream Harvest Farming Co., an indoor vertical farming company based in Houston that grows leafy greens and herbs using 95 percent less water and reducing food waste. Zain discusses the impact he’s looking to make within agriculture and the future of vertical farming. He also shares some key things Houstonians can do to shrink their carbon footprint on Earth...

CEO Phil Sitter and VP of sales Chris Chomenko of RepeatMD, a fintech and rewards platform working in the aesthetics and med spa industry, join the show today. The company has scaled significantly over the past year or so, growing to a team of 50 employees and adding around 200 new businesses to its custom rewards platform monthly. Phil and Chris explain the perfect storm they’re working in and wh...

Ody De La Paz is the co-founder & CEO of Sensytec Inc, a hardware and software startup that’s creating a smart concrete solution for the construction and infrastructure industries. Ody and I discuss the latest from his company, including a new project with the department of defense and how the pandemic and the recent infrastructure bill has spurred business and the need for Sensytec’s technology.

Scott Schneider is the president and CEO of HTX Labs, a Houston-based software startup with a team focused on creating virtual reality technology for training a next generation workforce. Scott shares how he pivoted to work closely with the department of defense on providing the military with innovative technology for training purposes. He also explains how HTX Labs has grown alongside of Houston’...

Allie Danziger is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ampersand Professionals, a Houston-based tech platform that trains and upskills interns for business placement. Today on the show, Allie discusses the challenges employers are facing with hiring this next generation of workers and how she’s partnering with the city of Houston's Hire Houston Youth initiative.

Houston innovators have flocked to SXSW in droves and some with the sole purpose of participating in Houston House, an activation set up by the Greater Houston Partnership to showcase tech and startups from Houston. Natalie Harms, editor of InnovationMap, spoke to four Houstonians after their discussions to dig a little deeper into some key points from the panels.

Roberta Schwartz of Houston Methodist and Dr. Roderic Pettigrew of Texas A&M University's EnMed program weigh in on health tech and the future medical industry workforce at a panel for Houston Tech Rodeo.